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HK

wrote:
On Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:28:59 -0000, wrote:

On Nov 2, 5:26 pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:33:39 -0000,
wrote:

I might suggest a smaller open or daysailer just to learn. Something
like a 17-20 foot Bluejay or similar would be great to learn on. Go
check out some "class" racing out of some yacht club local one day.
Look at the double handed 17-19 foot class, They are a lot of fun,
pleytiful and as someone told me, the best way to learn to sail is to
follow a bunch of similar boats around a race course... When you can
beat a few of them, you are learning to sail...
Blujays are about 14 ft and too small for adults in my opinion.
Ah ha, now you gotta clean yer own bilge... My bud has a 19 foot
Bluejay...

19 foot Bluejay? I imagine you are thinking of the Lightning. These two boats
that look like siblings, went hand in hand in LIS for young racers. They started
in the Bluejays and graduated to the Lightning class. The Lightning could be
used by adults as a daysailer, but... they are very "active" boats and not very
comfortable. Not really meant for relaxing.

The Rhodes 19 would be a lot more comfortable, and these days, you can find them
pretty cheap. Oday made two boats with the same hull and different decks, the
Rhodes 19 and the Mariner. There was even a Rhodes 19 version with a
centerboard, which made it relatively easy to launch and retrieve.

The Rhodes are still being manufactured, or were, as of two years ago. I
am pretty sure I saw a new one at the Annapolis boat show a couple of
years ago.